Highway fence



June 25, 1929. J RAMSEY 1,718,875

HIGHWAY FENCE Filed Dec. 31, 1927 AT TORNEYS Patented June 25, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. RAMSEY, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

HIGHWAY FENCE.

Application filed December 31, 1927. Serial No. 243,805.

This invention relates to guard rails or fences which are used at the margins of public highways to prevent vehicles from leaving the highway at curves and other dangerous points. More particularly the invention provides an improved anchorage for the cables of such fences.

Guard rails or fences for highways are usually constructed with spaced posts or supports of wood, concrete or metal. The fence is completed by steel cables supported on the posts. The fences are not continuous and the ends of the cables are anchored.

Such anchorage is necessary to take the strain to which the cables are subjected when they are struck by a vehicle. In structures heretofore used the anchors are crude and unsightly. They have a low visibility, deteriorate rapidly, have little resiliency and are often destroyed by theft of the parts. Thus a common form of anchorage consists of twisted cables secured to a log or timber which is buried in the ground and to the end post of the fence. The cables are twisted with a bar of wood or metal after they are connected to the post and log or timber. In such a structure the cables rust where they enter the ground and the wood rots. The life of the structure is short. It has comparativelylittle strength and resiliency, low visibility to the driver of a vehicle and 1s unsightly.

A modified form of this structure employs metal rods with turn-buckles to provide tension. The rods are connected to the end posts and to buried logs or concrete anchors. Such structures have most of the disadvantages described and frequently mischievous persons tamper with the turn-buckles or steal them, thus destroying the value of the fence.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved anchorage which is permanent and sightly, has a high visibility and is so constructed that no parts thereof can be removed or adjusted readily after the structure has been completed.

In carryin outthe invention I employ an anchor o concrete or similar material which is not affected by exposure. The anchor is firmly embedded in the ground but projects above the surface thereof, forming a base or support. Upon this support a bracket of suitable metal, such as cast iron, is bolted or otherwise securely fastened. The bracket is preferably pivoted upon an axis which may be, although it is not neces sarily, substantially parallel to the line of the fence. The height of the bracket may vary. Conveniently it may be about as high as the lower cable of the fence.

The bracket is provided with one or more sheaves rotatable on a suitable shaft or pin which is supported on the bracket. The cables forming the fence are strung on and are supported by the fence posts. The ends are carried about the sheaves of the brackets placed respectively at the ends of the fence. The cables may be tensioned by the usual device consisting of pulleys and a rope with .clamps whereby the pulleys are secured to the cable. W'hen suitable tension has been applied the ends of the respective cables are fastened to the adjacent portions thereof with permanent clamps of any suitable kind. The tensioning device may then be removed and the fence is complete.

The anchorage so constructed is permanent because the base and bracket are substantial and do not deteriorate by weathering or contact with the ground. The pivoted brackets are capable of limited movement and are not easily broken by impact of a vehicle therewith. The cables are permanently tensioned and .cannot be released. The parts are not easily removable. The structure has high visibility and presents, nevertheless, a good appearance. It has great strength and resiliency and until the cables or supports therefor are broken by impact of a vehicle the fence affords a sturdy protection.

The invention will be more fully described by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is an elevation of a portion of a fence embodying the improved anchorage;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a bracket;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the clamps.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates a post or other support for the cables 6 and 7. It is to beunderstood that a suitable number of posts will be provided to form a fence of the desired length. The cables may be secured to the posts in any desired way. They may, for example, pass through openings 8' in the posts.

At the ends of the fence anchorages are provided, each consisting of a base 9 of concrete or other suitable material and a bracket 10. The brackets may be made of cast iron, for example, and may consist of a foot 11 adapted to be secured by bolts 12 to the base 9 and an upright member'13. The foot and upright member may have lugs 14 and 15 thereon to receive a pin 16 whereby a pivotal connection is provided. Sheaves 17 may be mounted on a pin 18 extending through and secured in spaced lugs 19 on the upright member. The cables 6 and 7 extend about the sheaves and the ends are secured by clamps 20 consisting, for example, of 'U bolts 'adapted to straddle the strands of the cable. The latter may be held by kee ers 21 and nuts 22.

n connecting the cables to the anchorages a device consistin of pulleys 23 and a rope 24 may be used. e pulleys 23 have clamps 25 adapted to permit connection to the cable arid to the end thereof so that the cable may be tensioned by drawing it about the sheave. When the cable is suitably tensioned the end may be secured permanently by the clamps 20and the tensioning device may be removed. When both cables have been properly tensioned the fence is complete.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

I claim 1. An anchorage for a fence cable comprising a base embedded in the ground and projecting above the surface thereof, a bracket pivoted to swing transversley of the cable secured to the base and a sheave supported on the bracket.

2. An anchorage for a fence cable comprising a base embedded in the ground and projecting above the surface thereof, a bracket pivoted to swing transversely of the cable secured to the base and a plurality of sheaves supported on the bracket.

3. A highway fence comprising spaced supports, a cable mounted on the sup orts and anchorages at the ends of the ence comprising bases embedded in the ground and projecting above the surface thereof, pivoted brackets secured to the bases and sheaves supported on the brackets, the ends of the cable being secured about the sheaves and clamps for fastening the ends of the cable.

4. A highway fence comprising spaced supports, a plurality of cables mounted on the supports and anchorages at the ends of the fence comprising bases embedded in the ground and projecting above the surface thereof, pivoted brackets secured to the bases and sheaves supported on the brackets, the ends of the cables being secured about the sheaves and clamps for fastening the ends of the cable.

5. A highwayfence construction including a plurality of spaced supports, at least one cable suspended above the ground by said supports, the connections between the supports and the cable being such that the cable is movable with respect to the supports, and an anchor to which the cable is attached comprising a base and a member normally extending upwardly therefrom and pivoted to swing transversely of the cable said cable being attached to thepivoted member adjacent the uppermost part thereof so that the cable is maintained in its suspended position without material sagging due to the tendency of the pivoted member to swing downwardly from its vertical position.

6. A highway fence construction comprising a row of spaced supports, at least one cable suspended above the ground by said support, said cable being maintained in the suspended position by means of a slip connection with each support, an anchor at each end of the row of supports, each anchor including a base and apivoted member normally extending upwardly therefrom, said pivoted member tapering upwardly and having its uppermost portion adjacent the side thereof nearest to the end support, the cable being suspended in a plane above the uppermost portion of said pivoted member and being directed downwardly from the end support to a point of attachment with the pivoted member near its uppermost portion, and a sheave supported on the pivoted member at the point at which the cable is attached for permitting the cable to be drawn thereabout so that it can be readily tightened, whereby the cable will be suspended at an elevation necessary to constitute a fence for highway protection and will be caused to be maintained in substantially this position without material slack in the event that the cable becomes stretched as the result of contact with a vehicle.

7. A highway fence construction including a row of spaced supports, at least one cable suspended above the ground by said supports, and an anchor arranged at each end of the row of supports for securing the cable in a taut position, each anchor comprising a base embedded in the ground and projecting above the surface thereof, and a bracket secured to the base and pivoted to swing transversely of the cable, said pivoted bracket being constructed in a manner to permit the attachment of the cable thereto so that contact between the bracket and a vehicle will result in the movement therewree're of about its pivot Without causing a release of the cable et'tbe respective anchor clue to breakage.

8, An anchorage for a. fence cable corn- 5 prising a. fixed base, a bracket mounted thereon and arising therefrom, said bracket being pivoted; to swing transversely ol the cable endl supporting one or more sheeves for engagement with e, corresponding number oil cables substantially as described.

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